Softball falls 9-2 to Texas A&M at home

The Texas State softball team lost 9-2 to No. 13 Texas A&M Wednesday, dropping its fourth straight game and moving its overall record to 13-9.

The Bobcats have lost six straight to Texas A&M, making their all-time record against the Aggies 10-59.

Texas State got started early with a leadoff single by Kelli Baker, sophomore second baseman, to extend her hitting streak to seven games. Courtney Harris, junior third baseman, hit Baker home with an RBI single to give the Bobcats an early 1-0 lead.

“I still don’t think I’m where I need to be,” Baker said. “I’m taking every game, at bat and pitch to be the aggressor, to get ahead when I can.”

April Ryan, Texas A&M second baseman, put the Aggies ahead with a two RBI single in the top of the second to make the score 2-1. The Aggies added another two runs in the inning to extend their lead to 4-1, closing out the top of the second.

Texas A&M added to its lead in the top of the third with a leadoff homerun by Amber Garza, third baseman, extending the lead 5-1. Rayn House, senior pitcher, gave up a hit and a walk. Emily Albus, Aggies centerfielder, extended Texas A&M’s lead to 6-1 after an RBI double.

“(The Aggies) swing the bats well and don’t make mistakes at the plate,” said Coach Ricci Woodard. “I thought they did a great job at the plate. That’s what they’re known for, and that’s what they’ve been good at for a long time.”

Baker hit a home run to right field to give the Bobcats one more run in the bottom of the third, making the score 6-2.

House pitched six innings and had thrown more than 125 pitches by the fifth. Katie Marks, Texas A&M pitcher, threw 46 pitches by the same point in the game.

House gave up nine hits, six walks and six strikeouts in the game. House now has 104 strikeouts for the season, leading the team and the conference.

Garza hit a 3-run home run in the top of the sixth to give the Aggies a final score of 9-2. This was Garza’s second home run of the game.

Garza went 2-2 with a 2-run home run and a grand slam last season against Texas State in College Station. Garza added three more RBIs and a solo home run in this game.

House earned her fifth loss of the season, moving to 10-5. Marks earned her eighth victory and remains undefeated this season.

The ball club had three errors in the ball game, the most Texas State has had in any game this season.

“I think we got outplayed tonight,” Woodard said. “I don’t think we played a bad ball game as far as what we’re capable of doing, but I also don’t think we played a good ball game. They’re a good ball club, and they capitalized on our mistakes.”The matchup was the first of a seven home game stand for Texas State. The Bobcats start conference play March 15 against Louisiana-Monroe.

“The competition isn’t going to get any easier past this point,” Woodard said. “We have to make sure that we make those routine plays, stay aggressive against batters and make them swing the bats.”